Psychological Injuries – Personal Injury Claims
When someone is severely injured or a family loses a loved one, there will be mental and emotional damages in addition to economic losses. A jury that is considering an award for a personal injury or a wrongful death lawsuit might focus more on tangible losses, such as current and future medical bills and wage [...]
Read MoreIntroducing Louisiana Criminal Defense FAQs
Many of my criminal defense clients and their families ask similar questions — What diversion programs are available? Am I eligible? What about work release, GPS monitoring, and day reporting programs? Could I enter a drug diversion program? Where do I go for my court mandated drug tests? How do I contact an inmate? What [...]
Read MoreCo-Defendants and the Motion to Sever
In criminal cases where there are multiple defendants for a single crime, the district attorney or prosecuting attorney can bill the charge under one docket number. This means that all defendants will be tried at the same time in front of one jury or judge. However, it is often not in a defendant’s best interest [...]
Read MorePrincipal to First and Second Degree Murder
I recently had someone come to see me about a family member who had been charged as a “principal” to first degree murder. He did not understand why his relative had been charged since the person had not actually participated in the murder. Under Louisiana statutory law, if a person directly or indirectly assists in [...]
Read MoreBeyond a Reasonable Doubt
If you are ever charged with a serious crime and you are looking at possible jail time, the most important phrase you will hear and learn about is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” What this means is that in a criminal trial, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. [...]
Read MoreIllegal Search and Seizure and the Motion to Suppress
While people may know that the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects them against “unreasonable search and seizure,” they may not know the practical aspects of this right. This is a real life example that shows how the Amendment can protect your rights: I have a client who had been charged with possession of [...]
Read MoreEvaluating Sentence Exposure When Considering a Plea Agreement
As a Louisiana criminal defense attorney, I frequently have clients who are trying to decide if they should accept a plea offer or go to trial. A key element of the decision making process is the possible sentence exposure – that is, how many years in prison the District Attorney is offering versus what the [...]
Read MoreHow to Testify in Criminal Court When You Are the Defendant
If you are a defendant in a trial and you are called to the stand to testify, it will only be by your lawyer. The prosecution cannot order you to testify at trial and cannot call you to the stand in front of the jury. If this occurs, it is grounds for immediate mistrial – [...]
Read MoreRevocation Hearings: Preparation Is Vital
“Revocation” is when the district attorney’s office is attempting to revoke your probation and force you to serve time in jail. If you receive probation as part of a criminal sentence, the jail time associated with the charge is “suspended” provided you meet certain conditions. If you do not fulfill the requirements of your probation, [...]
Read MoreThe Right to a Fair Trial
Everyone has heard of the term “fair trial’ – but what does this really mean? The right to a fair trial is part of our constitutional right to due process. This means that your life, liberty and property cannot be taken away without following proper legal procedure. Part of due process is the right to [...]
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